The Easy Way to Cut Your Ferret's Toenails

A handy trick to easily cut your ferret's toenails without needing a second person, without scruffing, and without a struggle!

We run a ferret shelter and often have over 400 toenails to cut every three weeks. This handy trick will allow you to take your time cutting your ferret's nails so you won't have any nicks and you can keep the QuikStop in the cabinet where it belongs. This will show you the appropriate and easiest tools to use to cut your ferret's nails.

Step 1 Trouble cutting ferret toenails?

Does it always take two people to trim your ferret's nails? Does she squirm and make things difficult? Try the following steps!

Comments

[szraccoon]

WORKS SO WELL!!!! thanks for the tip

[cdonté]

I have always used human cuticle cutters. They are the perfect size and have a slight angle to them which helps!

[jones.5pc]

You dont need 2 people to click a ferrets nails. I sit down in a chair with my ferret and put the ferretone on his tummy. then put him on his back on top of my legs. the crevice between my legs keeps him from rolling off. then I clip his nails. If he starts to squirm I add a little more ferretone. I keep adding tone and clipping nails until I clip all of them. I dont need anyone to help me clip them. I've owned 3 ferrets, I currently have 2. scuffing doesnt work on my girl. She's 3 years old but the size of a kit. Until I started using ferretone it was incredibly difficult to clip her nails, now she is a little angel

[ferretlady]

This is a great instructable, but the cut line on this diagram is misleading. Ferret toenails should be cut so that the new flat tip is parallel to the floor when the ferret is standing. See the diagram at http://www.ehow.com/how_4452552_trim-ferrets-toenails.html

[lbaran]

Although it should make sense to do that, it doesn't allow enough of the white part to be cut back at one time. We cut our ferret's nails (and shelter ferret's nails) as we would when showing them. 1/8th inch of the white remains before the pink.

[uriahmsos]

Hi, i strongly agree with you in which nail clippers to use. Much quicker and a smooth finish, i cant imagine how uncomfortable it must be when akwadly cutting with human nail clippers, ouch. May i ask where about you are from?

[ferretlady]

Warning- argument about minutiae ahead! Of course I understand that you guys have to do what is most expedient when trimming so many ferret's nails (I also work at a ferret shelter, so I understand!), but for most owners, trimming a few ferret's nails slightly more often is not a problem, and if it makes walking more comfortable for the ferret then I think it's worth it. I'm guessing that you buff nice rounded edges when showing ferrets, which most owners won't need/want to do. In that case wouldn't it make more sense to move the pressure point to a place closer to the natural tip of o ferret's nail? I learned about the proper cutting angle from an article written by a ferret expert that was published in one of the national ferret magazines. It has since been corroborated many times by the owners of other large ferret shelters. Google: ferret "parallel to the floor" to see more sources.

[Ms.Stabs]

I use the 8 in 1 Ferretvite, All my ferrets love it. I prefer to use people toe nail clippers but thats only because I have three ferrets.

[uriahmsos]

You prefer to use peoples toe nail clippers, oh dear, i would be surprised if your ferrets nails have not split already, ouch. I cant imagine the inconvience it would cause the ferret having a split nail. Painful. The best and recommended safe way to cut ferrets toe nails is to use nail clippers specially designed for their rounded claws,you can pick these up at a very reasonable price (ask your vet or at a pet shop, they should assist you). If they are a little pricey that should be fine as they should last you a long time and they should not blunt so quick. I have three ferrets myself, (i find the males nails quite tough, but hes a big strong boy) and i put ferret tone on their belly, spread out their toes and cut off their nail making sure not to cut the quick (the pink) 8 in 1 Ferritive my ferrets love alot also, just like your fuzzies :)

[nightninja87]

i seen  a video where the women held the ferret by the nape of its neck like a mother cat or mother dog and it went calm and stayed there would that work too if you had someones help?

[Christinna]

BTW, I LOVE your ferret shelter logo. It's adorable!

[Christinna]

I was very happy to find this Instructable's. Thank you! However, I've never been able to master the art of trimming nails while standing, even with "tone". What works best for me is to sit and place the ferret on his/her back in the "crack" of my lap so they don't roll or move around. This way, there's no need to juggle to get to the other side. Also, I keep a sqeaky toy on the table to call the next ferret (if they're not already swarming my feet to get to the "tone") to their nail trimming session. I trim my deaf ferret's nails first, lol. Thanks again! ~Christinna - Mommy to 10 personal ferrets and volunteer for the Texas Ferret Lover's Rescue.

[ktrose]

My ferret doesn't like ferretone... he doesn't like treats in general really, but ferretone especially. we got that goo all over our fingers trying to get him to try it. we put it on stuff, we "left it around carelessly", etc. Even the one or two treats he's liked, he will only accept begrudgingly. :(

[The KNex Weasel]

Ooh. I'm glad this Instructable exists. My ferret NEVER lets me trim her claws except under absolute certain conditions.

[ferretlady]

I know a lot of people use these cat clippers, but i greatly prefer using flat-edged human toenail clippers. I feel it's easier to get the correct cutting angle, and would be impossible to take off a toe if the ferret thrashed. But whatever works!

[lbaran]

Not me, small cat clippers are my preference. When we have over 400 toenails to cut, we can accurately and quickly cut the nail without needing to concentrate on getting the pressure for the human-type correct. The scissor type movement of my hand is also much easier on my wrists than the human style which requires some up/down pressure. Everyone has their own preference. Just from experience I find that human-style nail clippers leave more jagged edges. The cat clippers tend to make a smoother cut, so you don't need to buff them (unless you're showing). When we have 30+ ferrets to do, I find the cat style is really fast (once you get confident and have some practice). Usually it takes about 20 minutes to do 30 ferrets, but with us speed is a necessity.

[ferretlady]

Yes, the human clippers have to be sharp, or they do break the nail more, but for me, the motion is much more comfortable than the scissors. TETO!

[ferretlady]

Thank you for all of your hard work on behalf of ferrets!

[ferretlady]

This is a great instructable, but I find it so much easier to lay the ferret in my lap so that I have both hands completely free. See my (very similar) method at : http://www.ehow.com/how_4452552_trim-ferrets-toenails.html

[shyrell]

O, this is the greatest! I have 5 inside cats right now and 4 are not quite 12 weeks old yet. I went right out and tried some canned salmon with a little juice. At first I put it on this one cat's belly. That worked for her front paws. Then I put the fish down on the spoon. While she was busy with that, I clipped her back claws. This is so great. This one little girl is a biter and scratcher. Not just playing. She really hurts everyone. I've had to spent some one on one time with her to break those nasty habits. So this instructable worked wonders for me. Thank you so much for posting. Shyrell

[padawanspider]

Do cats like ferretone/ is it safe for them? Otherwise I might try rubbing catnip on their bellies... but that might make them more high-strung... dunno. *shrugs*

[lbaran]

I'm not 100% sure if cats like ferretone, but they may like other things like Nutrical or a cat hairball treatment that tastes like chicken. My cats don't really like ferretone, but linatone is made for dogs/cats and some do like it. It would be worth a try to see if you could find something your cat likes. Remember though that cats can't bend quite as far as ferrets, so you'd have to see how flexible he/she is. I'd be interested to know your results!

[Yerboogieman]

next you should do how to cut a birds toe nails, my birds need it

[tackam]

Great tip. This will work for some cats and dogs as well.

[DesignerUserName]

Weez would kill me if I tried to clip his nails. And Ferretone is the most rancid, bitter, god-awful substance that I have ever (accidentally) tasted. Blech!

[ysabet]

Oooh yeah, tastes awful, doesn't it? But not to the fuzzbutts. I've done this before and it works wonderfully. As far as your Weez thinks, you'll be giving him a treat-- my three (Kit, Tan and Chai) get impatient for their turns at the clippers.

[kindn3ss]

awesome... I'll do this with my 5 ferrets. :) this is so cool. I've done it manually without any ferretons or anything else, and it worked. but maybe this ferreton will make it easier for me. :) are there any more topics on ferrets on this portal?

[lbaran]

I hope to do a few more tips and tricks soon when the spring fury of adoptions and turn-ins slows a little bit. :) Do you have anything you might want a tip for?

[kindn3ss]

I'm sorry but I've forgot to tell you that the very first thing I tried when I got from work on the day I first read your tip regarding the Ferreton, I have tried it on Sniffles (she's deaf but the best in the team and the most energetic). She happened to have the longest nails and she wouldn't even be bothered at all with the fact that I was cutting her nails. My wife was astonished. She couldn't believe it. :) Thank you for your advice. P.S! My name is Marius and is nice meeting you... (what was your name? :))...)

[kindn3ss]

thank you for the respond. I'm sorry but I have a couple of e-mails and not all of them are being checked on a daily based (this happened to be one. :(). Anyway, yes, I do want some tips for Iceberg, Wildfire, Starlight, Teddy Bear and Sniffles. As soon as I take them out of the cage (you know, after I come back from work and in weekends) they will go everywhere in my apartment and doing their needs (pooing in all the corners in the house). Also, if I close the door from my room (I usually let them in the living room to play out of the cage when I want to take some rest), they will dig in the carpet and somehow break it... They will also jump in my office and everything I have on my office, are soon to be on the floor. Nothing bothers me much because I love them like crazy. They are really wonderful little creatures and they do make my life shinning. Thank you for your time and hope I'll hear something soon from you. If there's anything I might help you with, please don't hesitate to ask and I'll be happy to...

[xxgemini]

<img src="http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/10/6/265395/fuzzy.jpg">

Thats how I clip my Fuzzys nails... Works great. But he stoped eating the feritone once he got a taste of Marshall Ferret LAX...lol. Cant give him too much or he poops everywhere! Great Instructable this will help a lot of people :)

[Gjdj3]

hahaha

[duck-lemon]

OMG!

[Jural]

I have never owned a ferret but I know my dog hates having her toenails clipped. I use a dremmel tool with a sanding drum and that works very well. No snagging the carpet afterwards. It rounds the nails and is much less dramatic.

[cfishy]

This is awesome. I wanna see if I can try something like peanut butter on my dachshund dog. She always gives me the death struggle and it took three people to get her nails cut. Dachshunds have black nails so it's impossible to see the quick from the sides. does the animal get upset when you cut into the quick and make them bleed? i'm always afraid of that. One tip: keep the nail clippers sharp would help, too.

[lbaran]

If you do cut the quick, it does hurt them, but not severely. It is similar to when you get a hang nail and it goes a little too far down. Smarts a little bit, but doesn't send you to the hospital or anything. Do Dachshunds bend in half well? You might be better off with peanut butter on his/her forleg instead of the stomach. They don't seem all that flexible, but I could be wrong.

[SizzleBacon_12341]

Great instructable , I might get a ferret soon so I need a lot of info

[lbaran]

Any time.. I'm hoping to put together a few more ferret related tips and hints instructables. I hope they help out future ferret owners. Thanks for the comment!

[livestrong2431]

Wow, i don't even own a ferret but this guide was still very fun to read! GREAT WORK!

[RFilyaw]

A valuable guide. There's little more grating than the clickity clickity click of a ferret doing his weasel war dance across the kitchen floor. We use that same nail clipper on our cats, as well. I think we actually bought it for the ferrets, but it works nicely for both.